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Archives: Official says fatal WL fire originated in kitchen

Emily Campion, Journal and Courier
2:46 p.m. EDT June 12, 2014

Men board up the windows of a house at 111 W. Lutz Street that caught fire early Saturday, November 16, 2013, in West Lafayette. The fire claimed the life of a Purdue University student.
(Photo:
From file
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This story was published Friday, Feb. 14, 2013, on Page A1 of the Journal & Courier.

Fire investigators believe a kitchen appliance or kitchen wall outlets caused the Nov. 16 fire at 111 Lutz St. that killed Purdue University senior Scott Notary, 22, and his dog.

"It did start in the kitchen area," said Dennis Randle, investigator for the Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office. "There were a couple of appliances used prior to the fire."

But an official cause has not been released, and that clarity may be weeks away.

A group including Randle, a representative from the West Lafayette Fire Department, State Farm Insurance representatives, engineers and GE Appliances representatives met Feb. 6 at the house three blocks from campus and collected appliances locked inside the charred home.

"We discussed everything on the property," Randle said.

The same group met Feb. 7 at the fire forensic services in Indianapolis to look at the appliances that could have caused the fatal fire.

"There are a couple items we need to test further," Randle said. "Some of the items we have to X-ray since they are all melted down. ... We have to send them off for microscopic photographs."

"A quesadilla maker, a coffee maker, a toaster. I think those are the three main appliances along with a couple wall outlets," he said. "We are looking to see if something was left on or if they had a short in the electric items or in a wall socket."

Randle also is keeping an eye on the electric range.

While the fire investigation is ongoing, city officials are inquiring into the possible issue of over-occupancy in the dwelling.

West Lafayette has hired a Lebanon attorney to explore code enforcement issues.

West Lafayette city attorney Eric Burns said Kent Frandsen of Parr, Richey, Obremskey, Frandsen and Patterson will represent the city in any possible action the city takes regarding over-occupancy or other code enforcement issue.

"I looked into the case and I had a conflict handling it," Burns said. "So I contacted Kent for help."

"I'm looking into residential code violations," Frandsen said. "We are waiting for the State Fire Marshal's report. ... Depending on his conclusion, it could have an impact on what position the city takes.

"At this point the city investigation has indicated there does not appear to be a connection between the code violations and the fire."

The four-bedroom home is zoned for a family plus up to two unrelated residents, or three unrelated tenants total.

The property owners, Alex Sabol and Calvin Stein, since the fire have not responded to requests for comment.

Don Stein, a Lafayette businessman who manages the property for his grandchildren who own it, said there were only three tenants in the rental.